Thursday, April 14, 2016

The Future is Almost iHere

I received yet another new product for testing the other day. This one sounded real promising and I was looking forward to testing it. I ended up being a tiny bit disappointed but let me explain further...

Have you ever lost your car keys? I think we all have at one time or another. Most of the time they are just "somewhere in the house" but locating them is nothing short of a monumental undertaking, usually requiring a team of volunteers. Looking to put an end to decades of human misery, Nonda came out with the iHere, the best item locator in the world! Not only is this little device a key locator, it also can call your cell phone (to find it when you misplace it), locate the last place you parked your car, record messages, and even use it as a selfie remote. Say goodbye to selfie sticks!

This shot will give you a good idea of iHere's size

All these features sound great but the one I was most interested in was the key finder. Not because I misplace my keys a lot but rather I thought there could be other possibilities for this feature. My dreams were crushed when I realized that the iHere device is not GPS based, it is bluetooth activated. The maximum distance to "locate" your keys or whatever you attach the iHere fob to is limited to the range of your phone's bluetooth, that or the last known location via google maps. The vehicle locator works by locking in your car's location via your phone. Just choose "Car Locator" in the iHere app on your phone. Press the button on the iHere fob and the app will remember that location for locating your car. Getting back to the key finder feature, the app does have a "lost keys" feature. When this is activated the app will "search" for your iHere using anyone's device that has the app downloaded. If your iHere's signal is picked up by another device's bluetooth, the location is sent to you. Pretty cool feature but it is dependent on other devices passing within bluetooth range of your iHere. Obviously, the more folks that have this app the better this feature will work. It doesn't take a computer scientist to figure that one out.

Although the app was easy to find I had to delete it twice before I got it to download and work correctly. The fob also needs to be charged before using it and about twice a month or more after that depending on how much it is used. The app does tell you the state of charge of your iHere, which is a useful feature. In summary, this is a clever little device, albeit with a few quirks. If you're prone to losing your keys or forgetting where you parked your car, this might be your lifesaver. Do yourself a favor and check out iHere, .

About Me

Hello and welcome to my web page. Frank's Classic Car Blog is a combination of repair tips, car related facts, opinions, and some of my photographs thrown in for good measure. I have been messing with cars and cameras since I was around 14. That's when I got my first car and my first camera - a 1961 Triumph Spitfire and a 35mm Argus. So you might say I have had my share of "hands-on" experience with both hobbies. I would like to know what you think, so feel free to post your comments.